Liquid diffuser



June 28, 1949. w. H. WHEELER ETAL 2,474,607

- LIQUID DIFFUSER Filed June 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28,. 1949. w, WHEELER Er AL 2,474,607

LIQUID DIFFUSER Filed June 13, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 2 l N VEN TORS Y sa/ma Mmm/fs Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT lorfT-lci-z i ma f 'm Lm e kem, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York N. Y., assignors to Air- Appumion June is, 194s, sel-ail Na. 616,521

14 calm. (cl. zas-zn) n beeasily withdrawn free for lateral movement adapted to disperse vapors from liquids into the atmosphere by controlled evaporation. 'I'he present application covers an improvement of the apparatus described and claimed in our co- .pending abandoned applications Serial No.

556,704, filed October 2, 1944, and Serial No. 608,470, iiled August 2, 1945.

A general object oi the invention is the provision of such liquid diiuser which is readily and economically constructed and assembled, easily manually manipulated to obtain quite precise adjustment or control of the rate of evaporation of contained liquid material, provides 'for -automatic manipulation to eiiiciently diffusive position of an evaporative porous body (e. g. a body of porous material which when saturated with liquid will permit' vaporization and diffusion of such liquid therefrom in vapor phase into the surrounding atmosphere) as such porous body and support means are manually withdrawn from a liquidcontaining vessel, permits ready openingfand closing of the vessel, and which is adapted to emcient dispension of liquids such as air fresh-A adjustment during withdrawal to any of a plurality of desired positions there to remain for exposure of a predetermined length of evaporative porous body for eiiiciently controlled rate kof evaporation, the stem means with the evaporative porous body carried thereby being readily returnable to the bottle to permit eiectve closure of the latter when termination of diffusion is desired.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide in such device such stem and evaporative porous body assembly as will assure operation of the latter in a manner so that a bottom portion of the assembly may eiliciently serve as a limiting stop in the withdrawal of the assembly from the vessel, and, during withdrawal, an automatic `action which may be considered as aring of the evaporative porous body means to insure eiective exposure of surfaces for efficient diiusion of vapor into the surrounding atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide such diffuser wherein stem means, projecting' down into a bottle when the latter is closed, may

evaporative porous body means, such as wicking, or the like, in such manner as to permit readyv biased spring arms which will flare out above the bottle mouth loops of wicking to assure therefrom eiilcient evaporation of liquid saturating the same, which liquid may be drawn from a quantity thereof conned in the bottle. l

Still another object of the invention is to provide structural embodiments of the device which are readily constructed and allow efllcient use and operation thereof.`

Other objects Iof the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of, elements f and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a. fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with parts in section, of onexembodiment of the present invention comprising an assembly including a bottle closure, stem means supported by the closure and evaporative porous body means mounted on the stem means, with the assembly shownmounted in a bottle containing evaporable liquid, all parts being in their relative positions when the bottle is closed; j

Fig. 2 isa view similar to that of Fig. 1 and of the structure shown therein, but with the closure shown in side elevation and with the stem; evaporative porousbody and closure raised or withdrawn from the bottle to a diffusing position;

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4' is a reduced scale vplan view, withparts broken away, of a strip of wicking which may l the present invention;

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the structure shown inFlg. 6;

, I4 of a vessel or bottle I5.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view, with parts in section and broken away, of modied means employable in the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for anchoring the spring arms to the stem; and

Fig. 12 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, of an embodiment of theinvention similar to that shown in Figs.` 1 ,to 5, inclusive, modified in the lower portion of the stem land wicking assembly in accordance with the i teachings -of Fig. 11 and including a variation of the wicking structure.

Referring to the drawings, like numerals identify like parts throughout. A vessel closure I0,

which may be a stopper or a cap and the like.

as desired, preferably comprises a cap havinga skirt II provided with a screw thread I2 adapted to engage with an external thread I3 on a neck The closure or cap I is provided with elongated` stem means I9 mounted thereto and suspending, therefroml in any suitable manner, such as by-i'orming a lateralLv extending eyelet I'I in thetdpendof stem I 9' and fastening that eyelet by means of a rivet or bolt I9 to the cap I0.

In the embodiment'shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,\the stem means I9 is preferably made from relatively rigid metallic` wire, preferably about sixty-five one-thousandths of an inch (0.065 in.) in diameter, having a reverse bend I9 therein to provide an upper anchoring means to provide an eye or loop 2l as best seen in Fig. 5. The reverse bend I9 provides a pair of laterally extending spaced-apart elements 2I between which thewicking or any suitable evaporative vided by a length of wicking 24 which is substantially medially clamped at 21 in the reverse bend I9 between the laterally extending'portions 2I,\2I of stem I8. Such strip 2l of wicking as shown in Fig. 4 may be provided withv a mark 28 to guide a workman in theplacement of the wicking in the reverse bend Il. Each end vportion of the wicking may also be provided with marks 29 and 29 located relatively close together and anl appreciable distance on either side of the mid-mark 29. The reverse side of the strip of wicking may be provided with marks II, 3| a vstillgreater distance away from the mid-mark 28.

To mount such strip of wicking 28 on the stem and arm assembly of Figs. 1, 2 and 5 a worker first may pierce an end of an arm 22 through `the wicking at mark 3l and then work the wicking down along the arm and about the reverse bend 24 to the lateral section 23 until the wicking is located adjacent the eye 20 for anchorage of the wicking to the stem I9. As shown in Figs.` 1 and 2 an end 25 of each arm 22 is provided with two reverse bends 32 and 33 so that the latterv may serve as a hook. In the second' assembly step the arm end 25 will be4 distance between mid-mark 29 and either of lower lanchorage marksv II, II is considerably greater than the distance between top anchorage means provided by reverse stem bend I9 and lower anchorage means provided by stem eye 2l and lateral section .23. As a result in the assembly of thewicking on the stem I5 and arms 22, 22 two loops 34, 24 are provided on opposite 4 0 sides of stem and the portion 35 of each loop 24, and having'its lower end bent back upon self between piercing mark I I and piercing mark 20,

porous body'is to be clamped and the eye 20'` provides a downwardly facing abutment spaced an appreciable longitudinal distance down the stem from the anchoring means at I9.

A `pair of spring arms 22, 22 are provided which may form the side portions of a V-shaped structure made from any suitable stock, suchl as resilient rod-like material, such as steel wire.

Such wire may be stainless steel wire about ilve one-hundredths of an inch (0.05 in.) in diameter.v

Since the arms 22, 22 are preferablymade i'roni` spring wire, they are spring-biased due to the resiliency of the material and the preliminary shaping which disposes them divergingly with respect tothe stem- I B. Such preliminary shapingvis somewhat similar to that shown in'Fig. 2 except that spring arms 22, 22 will have their top ends 25, 25 spread apart farther than thereinshown. v

' Preferably an evaporative porous bodyis proL 1 and 2, a certain relationship between 'the relative positions, shapes and dimensions of the various parts of the wicking and stem assembly' and the bottle and its neck are provided. For

example, neck I4, between itsmouth '21 and` the throat 31' thereof, is of appreciable length with the mouth and the internal-walls of the neck of a certain diameter. 'Ihe overall lateral dimension of the stem and wicking assembly in the vicinity of the lower anchorage means is appreciably greater than the internal diameter'` of the neck I4 and mouth A21. For example, downwardly extending reverse bends 24, 24 are. in the initial construction.' of an overall lateral dimension wider than the internal diameters of the neck and mouth. As a result, the stem I9 with its spring arms 22, 22 may be mounted into the bottle by squeezing the reverse bends 24, 24

toward each other and then pushing them down through thebottle neck into the bottle where they are permitted to spring laterally outward to their approximate initial positions as shown in Fig. 2. `As a result the reverse bends 24, 24

' provide an eillcient stop means limiting stem Awithdrawal from the bottle with all but abnormal Dullonthestem.

As to the relative dimensioning, it will be further noted from Fig. 1 that the stem I5 is of such length as to reach an appreciable distance down into the bottle I5 but considerably short of the bottom of the latter so that the downwardly projecting wicking stops 24, 24 will not engage the bottle bottom to interfere with proper seating of the cap I0. The arms 22, 22 are of such length as to .have their top ends 25, 25 or` reverse bends 32, 32 locatedwithin the neck I4 or above its throat 31' when the cap I0 is seated in bottle-closing position shown in Fig. 1, so that the stem and wicking assembly may be readily withdrawn up through the neck when the cap I0 is unscrewed. The side loops 34, 34 of wicking are of such length as to dispose theirl top bends 38, 38, when folded flat along the stem as shownin Fig. 1, within the neck I4 between its mouth 31 and throat 31', also to permit ready withdrawal of the stem and wicking assembly from the bottle. Of course the top ends 25, 25

of arms 22, 22 and wick top bends 38. 39fm'ust.

not extend up beyond a certain point as they must be free to pass beneath the bottom edge of cap skirt II when the stem assembly is withdrawn from the bottle. Clearance to permit the desired aring action must be provided as is indicated inthe drawings.

Preferably the spring arms 22, 22 are of such length and the reverse stem bend I9, constituting the top anchoring means, is solocated that the top ends 25, of the arms extend an appreciable distance above the top anchoring means lwhen the arms and wicking are folded against the stem I6 as in Fig. 1. This proportioning is preferred so as to have a greater length of wicking in each loop 34, 34 than might be possible if the anchoring means I9 were higher.

Each loop ofv wicking 34, 34 is preferably provided with a depending wick 39 connected thereto to reach down into the bottle I5 so as to draw up by capillary action liquid from a quantity 40 thereof in the bottle ls. Each depending wick" 39 is preferably connected to its loop 34 by being made integral with the wicking thereof. In other words, each length of wicking of the two on opposite sides of mid-mark 28 is of suflicient length as to provide the loop 34 in desired dimension and its depending wick 39 of such length as to extend substantially to the bottom of the bottle when the stem and wicking assembly is withdrawn to the maximum diii'using position.

shown in Fig. 2. l f

In operation of the embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in Figs',

diffusionand variation of the rate thereof ,will I be accomplished by withdrawal of the stem and wickingassembly up through the bottle neck I4 and adjustment of the former to a proper diffusing position. liquid in the bottle I5 is desired the cap I0 will be unscrewed from the bottle neck I4 and the stem and wicking assembly then withdrawn up through the neck by pulling upwardly onjthe cap. As this is done with withdrawal of the stem I6 and wicking loops 34, 34 up through the neck,

the spring arms 22, 22 ride along they inner wall s When diusion of evaporable of the bottle neck and, due to their spring-biasing. will tend to apply lateral force to the bottle neck which will provide considerable frictional resistance to sliding action, so that the stem and wicking assembly will remain in any adjusted position to which it may be withdrawn.

The maximum diiusing position shown in Fig. 2 is attained by lifting the cap I0 with withdrawal of the stem and wicking assembly up through neck I4 until the wicking stops 24, 24, which together are wider than the internal diameter of the bottle neck I4, jam up against the throat 31' of the latter. Thus when the stem and wicking assembly are-withdrawn gently such stop means will always be e'ective to limit maximum withdrawal from the bottle. However, the stem and wicking assembly may be completely withdrawn from the bottle if desired, such as for the purpose of washing or changing the wicking,

by applying suilicient excessive pull upon the stem and wicking assembly as to cause the neck I4` the top portions oi' the wicking loops 34, 34 and top ends 25, 25 of spring arms 22, 22 are freed above the neck I4 and bottle mouth 31 the spring arms are permitted to diverge laterally away from the stem I6 to carry with them the wickingr loops and thus are them laterally outward. This ilaring action becomes increasingly greater as the stem and wicking assembly is withdrawn through the bottle neck an increasingly greater distance,v

until the relative positions shownin Fig. 2 are reached. `In such maximum ndiffusing position shown in Fig. 2 the portions 36, 3 5 of wicking loops 34, 34 are stretched tautly by the biased spring arms 22, 22 and the latter are limited in their diverging action by the former. However,

- it will be noted that both faces of each of the wicking loops 34, 34 are exposed freely to the surrounding atmosphere so as to obtain maximum eflciency in evaporation of liquid therefrom, i. e.,

eii'ective diifusion into the surrounding atmosphere of vapor from the evaporable liquid saturating the wicking and received bythe latter ,from

the bottle, by capillary action' and/or direct conviously pointed out, the biasing of the spring arms to diverging positions due to their inherent resiliency and preliminary shaping will provide the lateral force and-drag ofthe arms against the inner walls of the neck necessary to cause the stem and wicking assembly to be held or clamped in any position towhich the assembly is withdrawn short of the maximumposition shown in Fig. 2. a c f f Although it is preferred. to provide the stem and wicking assembly with the depending wicks 39, 39, connected thereto either bymaking them as integral parts ofthe loops 3,4, 34 or by aiiixing separate pieces thereto, it is believed to be obvious I that no such depending wicks need be employed for efiicient use of the diffusing apparatus shown in Figs.y 1 to 5, inclusive.

For example, with dependingY wicks 39 39 i omitted the wicking in loops 34, 34 will be wetted when the stem and wicking assembly is in theV closed position shown in Fig. 1. Then upon `withdrawal of the stem and `wicking assembly to a diffusing position, such as that shown in Fig. 2, portions of the wetted loops 34,34 exposed to the surrounding atmosphere above the bottle neck |4 and its mouth 31 will deliver vapor from the liquid saturating the exposed wicking into the atmosphere at least for a limited time. The .supply of liquid in the exposed wicking may be replenished as desired by pushing the stem and wicking assembly down into the bottle for contact between the liquid and the wicking, either by dipping the latter into the liquid or by shaking the liquid up into contact with the wicking. It

is believed to be obvious that, with the bottle of wicking as in Fig. 2. Also it is 'apparent that with a substantial body of liquid in the bottle bottom portions of the wicking yloops 34, 34 might be brought down into contact with the liquid without the employment of depending wicks connected thereto. while'` providing for substantial exposure in diifusing position of the wicking loops above the bottle mou As shown in Figs. 6 and '1, a modined form of thestructure may comprise stem I6 having the reverse bend i3 to serve as a top anchoring means and its bottoml end provided witha reverse bend 4| including lateral portions 42 and '43,. In this modification the spring arms |22, |22 are formed from a relatively flat strip of material, such as spring steel, bent substantially to the form shown in Fig. 6 with its mid-portion shapedto provide a loop or eye 44 receiving lateral portion `42 of stem I6. The length of wicking 26 is clamped at.2| between the lateral portions 2l, 2| of reverse bend I9 and vthe wicking loops 34, 34 are then formed by training the wicking over the ends |24, |25 of the arms |22, |22 and then down beneath lateral portion 42 `of reverse bend 4| and the eye 44 of the arm structure so that the two layers of wicking will be clamped between that structure and lateral portion 43 `of reverse bend 4|.

It will benoted `from Fig. 6 that in such structure, if desired,- one end 45 of the wicking may be just suillciently long enough to loop beneath the lateral portion 42 of reverse bend 4| while` the other end |39 may be extended to form a depending wick similar to depending wick 39 of the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With the bottom portions of both wicking loops 34, 34 in contact at reverse bend 4| both wicking loops will be supplied or wetted with liquid in the bottle even though the surface of the liquid 'be lower 46 to engage into the wicking for secure anchorage of the latter, although such` teeth, or variations thereof, are not essential. In any case, with Figs. 6 and?? areemployed in a liquid-containing bottle in substitution for-the stem and wicking assembly of Figs. 1 and 2. If desired, in making such substitution similar precautions may be taken with regard to relative dimensioning of the parts and elements.

With regard to the embodiment and modication shown in 6 and 7, it will be noted that different degrees of flaring are illustrated although the ilaring action is generally the same. For example, in Fig. 2 the spring-biasingof the arms 22, 22 and their shapes -are such as to stretch the lateral portions 36, 3-6 of the loops 34, 34 quite tautiy so that transverse portion 41 of lthe wicking which is not clamped by the top anchoring means i9 is curved upwardly by the tensing .pull of .the arms as also Y shown in 5. In/the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, however, the shape of the arms |22,

|22 and the spring-biasing thereof has been intentionally modified for purposes of illustration' so as to apply less tensingforce to the lateral portions '36, 36 ofthe wicking loops 34, 34.`v As a result the unclamped lateral portion 41 of the wicking is disposed substantially inthe same planes as the clamped portions thereof, but of coursethe same general aring action is employed. 'It is believed to be obvious that with less tensing pull the disposition of the lateral portions 36, 36 of the wicking 26 of the embodiment of* Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, may be similar to that present invention. As proposed therein, the. l

stem 2|6 may'comprise a fiat narrow strip ot metal which has anchored thereto a loop of wicking 234 by means of a top anchoring rivet 2|! and a bottom anchoring rivet-223.

rivet 223 to provide a depending wick 233.` A spring-biased arm 222 may comprise a flat elongated strip of metal which may be hinged to the stem 2|6 by any suitable means, suchss an eyelet 4l, received inla hole 49 in the bottom end of arm 222. Such hinged arm may b'e formed of relatively .stiif material having little or `no inherent resiliency and the spring-biasing maybe attained by mounting a curved spring leaf II on such arm., such as by securing one end at Il to the arm by a rivet `with the other end at 52 riding freely against a face of the ilat stem 2li. The upper end 225 of the arm 222 may engage into the wicking loop in any suitable manner, such as that proposed in Fig. '1, with the portion 236 of the wicking loop limiting the lateral divergence of the arm 222 under the influence of the biasing spring embodied in a stem and wicking Vassembly' when `only one loop of wicking is provided on a side of the spring arms |22, |22 diverged to positions 75 the stem and it is believed obvious that in the v Figs. l `to 5, inclusive, and in Figs.

'I'he wick. may be extended below the bottom anchoring embodiments of Figs.- -1 to 5, inclusive, and Figs. 6 and 7 such structures may be vsimplified by omitting one of the wicking loops 34,- 34, or may be modified by providing the wicking loops from separate pieces of wicking having their ends anchored to the stem at the top anchoring means in any suitable manner. Further, it yis to be understood that the wicking loop 234 and springbiased arm structure 222 shown in` Fig.,8 may be duplicated on the opposite sides of the stem 2|6 by anchoring a lateral length 236 of an additional strip of wicking to the stem 2| 6 beneath the head of the rivet 2|9 and anchoring its other portion 235 to the stem beneath the head of the rivet 223. In such case another spring-biased arm 222 will be' provided on the opposite side of the stem 2|6, preferably with the employment of an additional pivoting eye 48.'

As shown in Figs. 9 and l0, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, may be simplified by bending the upper end 25 of each arm 22 laterally to provide aV transverse supportingfinger 52. In such case the end 25 of either spring arm 22 is piercedthrough the wicking loop 34 at point 30 so that transversely extending flnger 52 will engage the innersurface of the wicking substantially at point 29 to denne longitudinal portion 35 and lateral portion 36 of the wicking loop. f

As shown in Fig. l1 the eye on the bottom end of the stem I6 may be provided in the form of a snap hook to receive the lateral section 23 of the spring arm structure. With employment of a closed eye 20, as in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the

mounting of spring arm structure to the stem may require a tedious threading of oneof the arms from its top end through the eye past the returnVbends 33-and 32 and stop bend 24. With the employment of the snap eye |20, in the form of a hook as proposed in Fig. 11, the spring arms may be easily mounted to the stem I6 by snapping the lateral section 23 of the mid-portion into the eye or hook |20. v

When it is desired to employ a depending wick structure which will always reach down into the bottle to the vicinity of the bottom thereof regardless of the position of the stem and wicking assembly, such depending wick structure may, as proposed in Fig. 12, be simplifledfor economy in wicking material by fastening one short end 53 of the wicking to the elongateddepending end 39 in any suitable manner such as by a clamp or clip 54. Accordingly, liquid drawn up by capillary action in wick 39 will wet the one wicking loop 34 which has its portion 35 made integral therewith, and will also wet the other' loop of wicking through its short end 53 which is in face contact with the depending wick 39. -f

As to materials, the embodiments of the 'invention shown are well adapted to the employment of woven wicking, such as that commonly employed in oil lamps, but obviously other porous wickingsuch as felt, etc., may be employed. Further, although spring-biasing of the arms for flaring the wicking may be economically provided by forming them from spring metallic material such as spring steel, it is believed vto be obvious that other suitable materialsmay be employed such as resilient drawn or molded plastics and, in structures where resiliency of the aring arm material is not depended on for biasing, such as in Fig. 8, any suitable material which may have little, if any, resiliency may be employed. However. precaution should be taken in the selection ofvmaterials toavoid using such asvmay be attacked by the liquid to be bottled and diffused.

It will thus be seen that vthe `objects set forth above and thosemade apparent from the preceding description, among others, are emciently attained in accordance with the present invention and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desired to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid diffuser comprisingin combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitudinal distance apart, a length of wicking anchoredto said stem means on one side thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, and flaring means connected at a lower portion thereof to said stem means and having a free upper portion spring-biased laterally away from said stem means and engaging said wicking loop to flare the latter laterally away from said stem means when said upper free flaring portion is permitted to move laterally away from said stem means above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means.

2. A liquid diifuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper 'and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitiudinal distance apart, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each of said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, and a pair of flaring arms on opposite sides of said stem meanseach connected at a lower portion thereof to. said stem means and having avfree upper portion spring-biased laterally away from said stem means, said free upper portion of each of said arms being engaged with the wicking loop adjacent thereto to flare said wicking loops laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions when said flaring portions of said arms are permitted to move laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means.

3. A liquid diffusercomprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitudinal distance apart, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each of lsaid lengths of wicking being appreciably longer .that said arms will ilare said wicking `loops laterally away from said stem means in opposite Vdirections when said flaring portions of said arms are permitted to move laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means.

4. A-liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitudinal distance apart. a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each of said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to `provide a loop, and a pairof aring spring arms on opposite sides of said stem means connected together at lower portions thereof as integral parts of a single piece of elongated resilient material with said arms anchored to said stem means in the vicinity of said lower portions, said spring arms having upper free portions biased laterally away from said stem means on opposite sides of the latter by the resiliency of the arms material, said free upper portion of each of said arms being engaged with the wicking loop adjacent thereto so that said arms will flare said wicking loops laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions when said flaring portions of said arms are permitted to move laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means.

5. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitudinal distance apart, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, eachof said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, and a pair of daring spring arms on opposite sides of said stem 4means connected together. at lower portions thereof as integral parts of a single piece of elongated resilient material with said arms anchored to said stem means in the vicinity of said lower portions, said spring arms having upper free portions biased laterally away from said stem means on opposite sides of the latter by the resiliency of the arms material, said spring arms having their major portions located on the outsides of said loops to ride against vessel structure at its mouth upon stem means withdrawal and having their upper portions anchored to adjacent portions of said loops to are the latter laterally away from said stem 12 tance apart, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each of said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, and a pair` ofiiaring spring arms on opposite sides of said stem means connected together at lower portions thereof by an anchoring portion anchored to said stem means, said anchoring portion and the lower portions of said arms being normally of an overall lateral dimension greater than the width of the vessel mouth to constitute stop means limiting stem means withdrawal when other than abnormal stop means-deforming pull is applied to said stem means, said spring arms having upper free portions biased laterally away from said stem means on opposite sides of the latter by the resiliency of the arms material, said free upper portion of each of said arms being engaged with the wicking loop adjacent thereto to flare said wicking loops laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions when said flaring portions of said arms are permitted to move laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means.

7. A liquid diifuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located a certain longitudinal distance apart, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each oi' said lengths of wicking being appreciably longerv than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, a pair of flaring arms on opposite sides of said stem means each connected at a lower portion thereof to said stem means and having a free upper portion spring-biased laterally away from said stem means, said free upper portion of each of said arms being engaged with the wicking loop adjacent thereto to are said wicking loops away from said stem means in opposite directions when said flaring portions oi' said-arms are permitted to move laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means, and stop means in the vicinity of the lower portions of said arms comprising thereat portions of said arms spread apart to an overall lateral dimension greater than the width of the vessel mouth to limit Astem means withdrawal when other than abnormal stop means-deforming pull is applied to said stem means.

8. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having an elongated neck providing a mouth at the outward end thereof and a throat at the inward end thereof, a removable closure for the mouth, stem means mounted on said closure and extending down through said mouth and neck into said vessel, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper and lower anchoring means, each of said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said anchoring means to provide a loop, and a pair of flaring arms on opposite sides of said stem means each connected at a lower portion thereof to said stem means and having a free upper portion spring-biased .laterally away from said stem means, said free upper portion of each of said arms being engaged with the wicking loop adjacent thereto to nare said wicking loops away from thereagainst so as to assure location of those top ends and bends in the neck between its throat and mouth when said closure is seated on the neck in mouth-closing position. i

9. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on. said stem means located an appreciable longitudinal distance apart, an elongated piece of relativelyv sti resilient material bent into a V-shaped structure with its mid-portion serving as an anchorage section and connected to said stem means by said lower anchoring means, the side portions of said V-shaped structure extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem means to serve as spring arms which tend to diverge away from said stem means under biasing due to the pre-set shape of the resilient elongated piece, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper anchoring meansand by said mid-portion of said elongated piece, each of said lengths of, wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said upper anchoring means andl said anchoring midportion to provide a pair of loops, and 4upper spring arm ends with one engaging one of said loops and the other engaging the other of said loops to iiare them laterally away from said stem means in opposite directions when said arms are permit-ted to spring away from said stem means in opposite directions above the vessel :mouth upon withdrawal of said stem'means.

y l0. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means rextending down through the mouth into said vessel, upper and lower anchoring means on said stem means located an appreciable longitu- 'dinal distance apart, an elongated piece of relatively stii resilient material bent into a V-shaped structure with its mid-portion serving as an anchorage section and connected to said stem means by said lower anchoring means, the side portions of said V-shaped structure extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem means'to serve as spring arms diverging away from said stem means under biasing due to the pre-setshape of the resilient elongated piece, a pair of lengths of wicking anchored to said stem means on opposite sides thereof by said upper anchoring means and by said mid-portion of said elongated piece, each of said lengths of wicking being appreciably longer than the distance between said upper anchoring means and said anchoring mid-portion to provide a pair of loops, and upper spring arm ends with one engaging one of said loops an appreciable distance away from said upper anchoring meansl and the other of said spring arm ends engaging the other of. said loops a similar distance away from said upper anchoring means, the lengths of said loops between said upper anchoring means and said arm ends limiting lateral springing movement of said arms away from said stem means above thevessel mouth upon withdrawal of said stem means, the portions of said loops between said lower anchoring mid-portion and said upper spring arm ends being disposed i4 on the insides oi said arms between the latter and said stem means to permit said arms to ride against inner', vessel walls upon stem means withdrawal. 5 11. A liquid diifusercomprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down vthrough the mouth into said vessel, upper anchoring means on said stem means and lower downwardly facing abutment means on said stem means located an appreciable distance below said upper anchoring means, 'an elongated piece of relatively stiff resilient rodlike material bent into a V-shaped structure with -its mid-portion fastened against said abutment means and extending laterally Ion opposite sides of said stem means, lthe side portions of said V- shaped structure beyond said mid-portion. extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem means and divergingly away from the latter when unconfined to serve as biased spring arms Vwhen confined by vessel structure along said stem means, an elongated strip of wicking medially anchored to said stem means by said upper anchoring means ,with both wicking portions on opposite sides of said stem means looped down to said mid-portion to provide two lengths ot wicking each appreciably longer than 'the distance between said top anchoring means andsaid mid-portion of said V-shaped structure, said laterally extending portions of said mid-portion on QPpOsite sides of said stem means being pierced Y through said lengths of wicking to anchor them to said stem means thereby forming two loops of wicking, and means on the upper ends of said spring arms engaged into said loops of wicking appreciable distances away from said upper an' choring means with those portions of said arms between their upper wicking-engaging means and the lower piercing lateral portions of said midportion being disposed exteriorly of the portions of said wicking loops extending therebetween.

`12. A liquid 'diiuser comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth into 45 said vessel, upper anchoring means on said stem elongated piece of relatively stiff resilient rodlike material bent into a V-shaped structure with its mid-portion fastened against said abutment means and extending laterally on opposite sides of said stem means, the'side portions of said V- shaped structure beyond said mid-portion extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem means and divergingly away from the latter when unconned to serve as biased spring arms when confined by vessel structure along said stem means, an elongated strip of wicking medially 00 anchored to said stem means by said upper anchoring means with both wicking portions on opposite sides of said stem means looped down to said mid-portion to provide two lengths of wicking each appreciably longer than the dis- 05 tance between said top anchoring means and said mid-portion of said V-shaped structure, said laterally/extending portions of said mid-portion on opposite sides of said stem means being pierced through said lngths of wicking to anchor them to said steml means thereby forming two loops of wicking, means on the upper ends of said spring arms engaged into said loops of wicking appreciable distances away from said upper anchoring means with those portions of said arms between their upper wicking-engaging means and the mid-portion on the outsides of the pierced bottom ends of said loops to prevent slippage of the latter up said arms. l

13. A liquid difl'user comprising, in combination, a vessel having a mouth, elongated stem means extending down through the mouth-into vsaid vessel, upper anchoring means on said stem means and lower downwardly facing abutment means on said s tem means located an appreciable distance below said upper anchoring means, an elongated piece of relatively sti! resilient rod-like material bent into a V- shaped structure with its mid-portion fastened against said abutment means and extending laterally on opposite sides of said stem means,

the side portions of said V-shaped structure beyond said mid-portionl extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem means and divergingly away from the latter when unconilned to serve as biased spring armswhen conned by vessel structure along said stem means, an elongated 25 strip of wicking medially anchored to said stem means by said upper anchoring means with both' wicking portions on opposite sides of said stem means looped down to said mid-portion to pro- Yvide two lengths of wicking each appreciably longer than the distance between said top anchoring means and said mid-portion of said V- shaped structure, said laterally extending portions of said mid-portion on opposite sides of' said stem means being pierced through said `lengths of wicking to anchor them to said stem means thereby forming two loops of wicking, means on the upper ends of said spring arms engaged into said loops of wicking appreciable distancestaway from said upper anchoring means 40 with those portions of said arms between their upper -wicking-engaging means and the lower piercing lateral portions of said mid-portion being disposed exteriorly ofthe portions of said wicking loops extending therebetween, and projecting means on' the lateral portions of said mid-portion on the outsides of the pierced bottoln ends of said loops to prevent slippage of the latter up said arms, said mid-portion and associated structure thereat being of an overall lateral dimension greater than the width of the vessel mouth to serve as stop means limiting stem means withdrawal when other than abnormal stop means-deforming pull is applied to said stem means.

14. A liquid diiluser comprising, in combination, a vessel having an` elongated neck providing a mouth at the outward end thereof and a throat at the inward end thereof, a removable closure for the mouth, an elongated relatively stil! wire stem mounted on said closure and extending down through said mouth and neck into said vessel, upper wicking-anchoring means on said stem comprising a laterally extending reverse bend therein located an appreciable distance '65 up from the bottom end of said stem, an eye at the bottom end of-said stem formed by bending the dlatter into a loop, an elongated piece ot spring wire bent into a generally V-shaped structure with its mid-portion comprising a relative- .m

ly short laterally extending section merging `at both ends into downwardly extending reverse aimee? bends providing laterally spaced-apart wicking stops, said mid-portion extending through said eye for anchorage of said V-shaped structure to said stem with said wicking stops being disposed on opposite sides of said stem, the side portions ol' said V-shaped structure beyond said wicking stops extending upwardly on opposite sides of said stem and divergingly away from the latter when unconilned to serve as biased spring arms when conned by vessel structure along said stem with the top ends of said arms extending an appreciable distance above said upper anchoring means, an elongated strip of wicking medially clamped in said reverse stem bend constituting said upper anchoring means with both wicking portions on opposite sides of said stem looped down toward said eye to provide two lengths of Y.

wicking each appreciably longer than the distance between said stem reverse bend and its bottom eye. said laterally extending section of said mid-portion being pierced through said lengths of wicking on opposite sides of said stem to form two loops of wicking each anchored at its bottom to said stem between the latter and one of said wicking stops, and means on the top ends of said spring arms pierced into said' loops of wicking to attach them thereto with the portions of said arms between said points of piercing at said stem eye and at the top ends of said arms being on the .'outsides of said wicking loops, said top ends of said arms being thus attachedto said wicking loops at appreciable distances away from the point of wicking anchorage by said reloops above the vessel mouth upon stem withdrawal, said strip of wicking having at least one depending wick connected thereto of a length suiilncient to reach down into said vessel with submergence in liquid in the vessel when said stem is withdrawn to an evaporative position, said wicking stops being laterally spaced-apart a distance sufficient to provide said V-shaped structure thereat with an overall lateral dimension greater than the width of the' throat of said neck to serve as stop means limiting stem withdrawal whenother than abnormal structure-deforming pull is applied to said stem, the top ends of said spring arms and top bends in said wicking loops extending upwardly a limited distance along said stem when foldedthereagainst .so as to assure location of those top ends and bends in the neck between its throat and mouth when said closure is seated on the neck in mouth-closing position.

WILLIAM II. WHEELER. LEONARD B. wai/INES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le lof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 525,646 Cox Sept. 4, 1894 1,238,904 Folmer Sept. 4, 1917 1,277,892 Evans Sept. 3, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 236,607 Great Britain July 16, 1925 

